In transition: academic e-book reading in an institution without e-books

Purpose – This paper aims to report the results of a study that examined the ways in which graduate-level library and information science students make use of e-books and e-readers at an institution that does not offer e-books through its library. The paper can be used as a case study in the adoption of emerging technology. Design/methodology/approach – The study used three research methods – a survey, focus groups and interviews – to investigate library and information science students’ reading habits and preferences. Findings – The findings suggest that despite the barriers of access and usability, the students have generally incorporated e-books into their academic routines. The results also suggest the factors that contribute to reader preferences for e-book technology. Research limitations/implications – The study sample was limited to one academic institution without e-book collection. Originality/value – The article presents one of the very few studies that examine e-book reading of an academic pop...

[1]  Leslie J Czechowski,et al.  Clinical and academic use of electronic and print books: the Health Sciences Library System e-book study at the University of Pittsburgh. , 2011, Journal of the Medical Library Association : JMLA.

[2]  Forbes Gibb,et al.  Students' attitudes towards e-books in a Scottish higher education institute. Part 2: Analysis of e-book usage , 2008 .

[3]  David B. Daniel,et al.  E-books or textbooks: Students prefer textbooks , 2010, Comput. Educ..

[4]  Ian Rowlands,et al.  Scholarly e-books: the views of 16, 000 academics: Results from the JISC National E-Book Observatory , 2009, Aslib Proc..

[5]  Peter Ahlroos,et al.  The e-Reader — an Educational or an Entertainment Tool? e-Readers in an Academic Setting , 2012 .

[6]  Susan Hurst,et al.  Book Lovers, Technophiles, Printers and Pragmatists: The Social and Demographic Structure of User Attitudes toward e-Books , 2012 .

[7]  D. McCarthy.  Mobile Perspectives: On E-Books. E-Reading--The Transition in Higher Education. , 2011 .

[8]  Rusty Kimball,et al.  Comparative Usage of Science E-book and Print Collections at Texas A&M University Libraries , 2009 .

[9]  Debbie L. Rabina,et al.  Forms, effects, function: LIS students' attitudes towards portable e-book readers , 2010, Aslib Proc..

[10]  John Vickery,et al.  Librarian, Publisher, and Vendor Perspectives on Consortial E-Book Purchasing: The Experience of the TRLN Beyond Print Summit , 2012 .

[11]  Ming‐der Wu,et al.  Graduate students' usage of and attitudes towards e-books: experiences from Taiwan , 2011, Program.

[12]  Anali Maughan Perry,et al.  Exploring faculty experiences with e-books: a focus group , 2008, Libr. Hi Tech.

[13]  Rosita E. Hopper,et al.  E-book Use by Students: Undergraduates in Economics, Literature, and Nursing , 2007 .

[14]  Barbara Blummer,et al.  Best Practices for Integrating E-books in Academic Libraries: A Literature Review From 2005 to Present , 2012 .

[15]  Corey Davis,et al.  E-Books Revisited: Surveying Student E-Book Usage in a Distributed Learning Academic Library 6 Years Later , 2010 .

[16]  Irene Lopatovska,et al.  E-books in academia: Expectations and challenges , 2013 .

[17]  Neeraj Chaurasia,et al.  Exploring the Information Seeking Behaviour of Students and Scholars in Electronic Environment: A Case Study , 2012 .

[18]  L. Tedd.  E-BOOKS IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES: AN INTERNATIONAL OVERVIEW , 2005 .

[19]  Forbes Gibb,et al.  Students' Attitudes towards E-books in a Scottish Higher Education Institute: Part 3 - Search and browse tasks. , 2009 .

[20]  Anne Nichol,et al.  Like an open book? Accessibility of e-book content for academic study in a diverse student population , 2010 .

[21]  Karen Rupp-Serrano,et al.  Exploring E-book Usage Among Faculty and Graduate Students in the Geosciences: Results of a Small Survey and Focus Group Approach , 2010 .

[22]  Charlotte P. Lee,et al.  The imposition and superimposition of digital reading technology: the academic potential of e-readers , 2011, CHI.

[23]  Pamela A. Grudzien,et al.  Do Off-Campus Students Use E-Books? , 2008 .

[24]  R. Slater.  Why Aren't E-Books Gaining More Ground in Academic Libraries? E-Book Use and Perceptions: A Review of Published Literature and Research , 2010 .

[25]  M. Rojeski,et al.  User perceptions of ebooks versus print books for class reserves in an academic library , 2012 .

[26]  Leticia M. Camacho,et al.  Transitioning to E-books: Usage and Attitudes Among Business Faculty , 2010 .

[27]  Nicholas Chen,et al.  Designing a multi-slate reading environment to support active reading activities , 2012, TCHI.

[28]  Forbes Gibb,et al.  Students' attitudes towards e‐books in a Scottish higher education institute: part 1 , 2008 .

[29]  Carol Simon.  Just the Facts: An Examination of E-Book Usage by Business Students and Faculty , 2011 .

[30]  Jacqueline Ann Chelin,et al.  "E-books are good if there are no copies left": a survey of e-book usage at UWE Library Services , 2009 .

[31]  Rachel S. Wexelbaum,et al.  Challenges to E-Reader Adoption in Academic Libraries , 2012 .

[32]  Chan Li,et al.  UC Libraries Academic e-Book Usage Survey , 2011 .